EP3868976B1

EP3868976B1 - Parquet, kit and method of assembly and disassembly

Info

Publication number: EP3868976B1
Application number: EP21157284.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Patrizio DEI TOS
Original assignee: Itlas Srl
Current assignee: Itlas Srl
Priority date: 2020-02-21
Filing date: 2021-02-16
Publication date: 2023-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 2041-02-16
Also published as: EP3868976C0; IT202000003656A1; EP3868976A1

Description

FIELD OF APPLICATION

The present invention relates to a parquet, the relative assembly and disassembly kit and the relative assembly and disassembly method.

BACKGROUND ART

As it is known, parquets comprise a plurality of adjacent strips which are laid on the floor along respective edges.
Two consecutive strips are usually coupled and associated with each other according to a shape coupling, conventionally of the male/female type, so as to create an interlocking fixed structure.
This type of coupling has the advantage of being very practical and fast, since the various strips are placed adjacent and quickly interlocked to each other, to form the parquet as a whole.
Such solution, if, on the one hand, is easy to assemble, on the other hand, is uncomfortable and inconvenient to disassemble.
The disassembly of the parquet may be caused by various factors; conventionally, it may be necessary to replace some strips since they are damaged, stained or deformed/warped due to infiltration of water or liquids.
In known solutions, the disassembly of the strips is an irreversible operation, since it is necessary to break or, in any case, partially damage at least one strip so as to extract it from the laying plane. Once a strip has been extracted, it is then possible to remove the others. In known solutions, two adjacent strips are usually irreversibly damaged so as to proceed with the partial removal of the parquet. Irreversible damage to one or more strips is an unpleasant event which must be avoided as much as possible since it leads to an increase in the maintenance/replacement costs of the parquet. Solutions according to the preamble of claim 1 are disclosed by WO 2006/043893 A1 .

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the need to solve the drawbacks and limitations mentioned above with reference to the prior art is felt.
Such a need is met by a parquet according to claim 1 and by a parquet assembly and disassembly kit according to claim 8 and by a parquet assembly and disassembly method according to claim 12.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention will be more comprehensible from the following description of preferred embodiments given by way of nonlimiting examples, in which:

Figure 1 shows a partial perspective view of a parquet, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of strips and connection elements of a parquet, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a disassembly tool of a kit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a connection element in accordance with a possible embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5 shows a side view of a connection element in accordance with a possible further embodiment of the present invention.

Elements or parts in common to the embodiments described will be indicated hereafter using the same reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the aforesaid Figures, reference number 4 globally indicates a parquet comprising at least one first strip 8 and one second strip 12, each having a body 16 extending along a prevailing longitudinal direction L-L.
The body 16 identifies a pair of bases 20 for the laying thereof. Conventionally, the body 16 has a rectangular section with respect to a section plane perpendicular to said prevailing longitudinal direction L-L. The bases 20 also constitute the bases of said rectangular section and are connected by lateral edges 24.
Said body 16 is provided, at at least one lateral edge 24, with a seat or perimeter recess 28 recessed with respect to said lateral edge 24.
Preferably the body 16 is symmetrical with respect to a midplane M-M parallel to said prevailing longitudinal direction L-L, therefore it provides a seat or perimeter recess 28 at each lateral edge 24.
In the assembly or laying configuration, the lateral edges 24 of the adjacent strips 8, 12 identify a joint 32. Joint 32 means an interstice parallel to said prevailing longitudinal direction L-L.
The parquet 4 comprises at least one connection element 36 housed in the seats or perimeter recesses 28 of said first and second adjacent strips 8, 12.
The connection element 36 is deformable from a non-deformed or rest configuration, in which it is housed at least partially continuously in the seats 28 of said first strip 8 and second strip 12 so as to create an undercut to a relative vertical movement between said strips 8, 12, along a vertical direction Z-Z perpendicular to the prevailing longitudinal direction L-L and to said bases 20, to a deformed configuration in which the connection element 36 is housed in only one of said seats 28 or has a discontinuity or separation 40 at said joint 32 so as to allow the separation of said strips 8, 12 in the vertical direction Z-Z.
The expression 'is housed at least partially continuously in the seats 28' means that the connection element 36 seamlessly, therefore continuously, extends between the seat 28 of the first strip 8 and the seat 28 of the second strip 12, so as to create an undercut at the separation between the strips 8, 12 according to a vertical separation direction Z-Z.
Instead, the discontinuity or separation 40 is simply a fracture between two portions of the connection element 36, aligned along the joint 32, so as to allow the separation of the two parts of the connection element, each housed in the seat 28 of a relative strip 8,12, so as to separate said strips 8,12 from each other along the vertical direction Z-Z.
In accordance with an embodiment, the connection element 36 has an arch shape, in the non-deformed configuration.
The connection element 36 extends between a pair of ends 44 shaped to block the connection element inside the seat 28 so as to counteract the sliding of the connection element along said longitudinal direction L-L. In this manner, the connection element is prevented from accidentally or unintentionally sliding in the longitudinal direction in the seat 28.
According to a possible embodiment, said ends 44 are pointed flared. In this manner, the blocking of the longitudinal sliding of the connection element 36 inside the seat 28 is increased.
According to a possible embodiment, said ends 44 are provided with a rough surface. In this manner, the blocking of the longitudinal sliding of the connection element 36 inside the seat 28 is increased.
According to a possible embodiment, the connection element 36 has at least one flaring 48 in a vertical direction Z-Z, facing the respective joint 32.
The connection element 36 may be made of various materials. For example, the connection element 36 is made of wood or metal.
Preferably, the connection element 36 has a vertical thickness 52 equal to a vertical height 56 of said seat or perimeter recess 28.
According to an example not falling under the scope of the claims, the connection element 36 may be an elastically deformable connection element so that it may elastically, i.e., in a reversible manner, switch from the non-deformed configuration to the deformed configuration and vice versa. In this manner, the connection element 36 may be repeatedly reused, without need for replacement.
In such example, in said deformed configuration the connection element 36 is elastically deformed so as to be housed inside a single seat 28 of one of said adjacent strips 8,12 and allow the separation of said strips 8,12 in the vertical direction Z-Z, since the undercut effect is lacking. As seen, in the absence of the deformation action, the same connection element 36 returns to the non-deformed configuration so as to exercise the undercut blocking between the strips 8, 12 along the vertical direction Z-Z.
According to the invention, the connection element 36 is a plastically deformable connection element so as to irreversibly switch from the non-deformed configuration to the deformed configuration in which it is permanently housed inside a single seat 28 of one of said adjacent strips 8,12 or is interrupted at said joint 32, to allow the separation of said strips 8,12 in the vertical direction Z-Z.
In other words, in the plastically deformed configuration the connection element may permanently deform so as to press itself inside a single seat 28, or it may fracture at the height of the joint 32 so as to allow the separation between the strips in the vertical direction Z-Z.
In order to facilitate the irreversible or plastic fracture, the connection element 36 has at least one notch 60 at said joint 32 so as to facilitate the breaking thereof at the joint 32 itself.
The present invention also relates to a parquet assembly and disassembly kit 4 as described above.
In particular, said kit comprises at least one disassembly tool 64 comprising a gripping portion or handle 68 and a foil 72 configured to pass through the joint 32 and to vertically and longitudinally slide along said joint 32.
According to an embodiment, said foil 72 is shaped so as to deform the connection element 36 from the non-deformed configuration to the deformed configuration.
For example, the foil 72 is shaped so as to flatten and keep flat the connection element 36 inside one of said seats 28, sliding in the joint 32, parallel to said longitudinal direction L-L.
The foil 72 is, according to an embodiment, shaped so as to penetrate into the joint 32 and break the connection element at at least one notch 60 made at said joint.
For this purpose, said foil is preferably a metal foil.
According to a possible embodiment (Figure 5), the connection element 36 comprises at least one gap or step 76, preferably arranged on a convex side 80 of the connection element 36.
In this manner, the disassembly tool 64, after having been correctly inserted into the joint 32 between two adjacent strips 8, 12, may hook said gap or step and make the connection element 36 itself slide, parallel to the prevailing longitudinal direction L-L.
According to a possible embodiment, the connection element 36 has a pair of indentations or weakenings 84, preferably arranged on a concave side 88 of the connection element 36. Said indentations or weakenings 84 are preferably arranged towards the ends 44 of the connection element and create a sort of elastic hinge around which end branches 92 of the connection element 36 may elastically flex.
The parquet assembly and disassembly method according to the present invention will now be described.
In particular, during the assembly step, the strips 8, 12 are placed adjacent to the respective lateral edges 24, arranged parallel to each other along the longitudinal direction L-L, taking care to insert at least one connection element 36 between two adjacent strips so as to engage both seats 28 of said strips 8, 12.
In this manner, the connection element creates an undercut when separating the strips in the vertical direction Z-Z.
At the end of the laying of the parquet 4, all the strips will be suitably placed adjacent and fixed to each other by virtue of the shape coupling between the connection elements 36 and the relative seats or perimeter recesses 28.
The disassembly tool 64 is used to perform the reversible and non-destructive disassembly.
In particular, the disassembly tool 64 is gripped and the foil 72 is inserted through the joint 32 between two consecutive strips 8, 12.
The use of the foil depends on the type of connection element used.
For example, if a deformable connection element 36 is used, it is sufficient to make the foil 72 slide inside the joint 32 along the prevailing longitudinal direction L-L. In this manner, when the foil intercepts the connection element 36, conventionally arched, it will tend to press such connection element 36 so that it is brought inside the seat 28 which houses the ends 44. In this manner, there is no longer any undercut which may prevent the lifting of said strips in the vertical direction. If the connection element 36 is elastically deformable, then it will also be possible to reuse the connection element 36 for the subsequent assembly of the parquet, since it behaves like a spring. If, instead, the connection element 36 is plastically deformable, after the flattening thereof, it will not return to the initial configuration thereof and must therefore be replaced.
In the case where connecting elements which are plastically deformable by shearing are used, then, during the assembly step, the respective notches 60 are positioned at the joint 32 and, during the disassembly step, the foil is inserted vertically so as to shear the connection elements 36 at said notches 60.
As it may be appreciated from what has been described, the parquet, the kit and the assembly and disassembly method according to the invention allow to overcome the drawbacks presented in the prior art.
In particular, the present invention allows to disassemble a single strip from the parquet in a reversible manner, i.e., without in any way damaging the strip itself or the one adjacent thereto.
The disassembly operation and the subsequent assembly is particularly simple and quick to perform.
The kit is particularly convenient for parquet fitters and/or maintenance technicians to use.

Claims

A parquet (4) comprising:
- at least one first strip (8) and one second strip (12), each having a body (16) extending along a prevailing longitudinal direction (L-L) and identifying a pair of bases (20) for the laying thereof,

- wherein said body (16) is provided, at at least one lateral edge (24), with a seat or perimeter recess (28), recessed with respect to said lateral edge (24), the lateral edges (24) of the adjacent strips (8,12) identifying a joint (32),

- at least one connection element (36) housed in the seats (28) of said first and second adjacent strips (8,12),

- wherein the connection element (36) is deformable from a non-deformed or rest configuration, in which it is housed at least partially continuously in the seats (28) of said first and second strips (8,12) so as to create an undercut to a relative vertical movement between said strips (8,12), along a vertical direction (Z-Z) perpendicular to the prevailing longitudinal direction (L-L) and to said bases (20), to a deformed configuration in which the connection element (36) is housed in only one of said seats (28) or has a discontinuity or separation (40) at said joint (32) so as to allow the separation of said strips (8,12) in the vertical direction (Z-Z),
characterized in that
the connection element (36) is a plastically deformable connection element (36) so as to irreversibly switch from the non-deformed configuration to the deformed configuration in which it is housed inside a single seat (28) of one of said adjacent strips (8,12) or is interrupted at said joint (32), to allow the separation of said strips (8,12) in the vertical direction (Z-Z), wherein the connection element (36) has at least one notch (60) at said joint (32) so as to facilitate the breaking thereof at the joint (32) itself.
A parquet (4) according to claim 1, wherein the connection element (36) extends between a pair of ends (44) shaped to block the connection element (36) inside the seat (28) so as to counteract the sliding of the connection element (36) along said prevailing longitudinal direction (L-L).
A parquet (4) according to claim 2, wherein said ends (44) are pointed flared and have a rough surface.
A parquet (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection element (36) has at least one flaring (48) in a vertical direction, facing the respective joint (32).
A parquet (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection element (36) comprises at least one gap or step (76), preferably arranged on a convex side (80) of the connection element (36).
A parquet (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection element (36) has a pair of indentations or weakenings (84), arranged on a concave side (88) of the connection element (36), wherein said indentations or weakenings (84) are preferably arranged towards the ends (44) of the connection element (36) and create a sort of elastic hinge around which end branches (92) of the connection element (36) may elastically flex.
A parquet (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the connection element (36) is an elastically deformable connection element (36) so that it may elastically switch from the non-deformed configuration to the deformed configuration and vice versa.
A parquet assembly and disassembly kit comprising a parquet (4) according to any one of the preceding claims and at least one disassembly tool (64) comprising a gripping portion (68) and a foil (72) configured to pass through and slide vertically and longitudinally along said joint (32).
A parquet assembly and disassembly kit according to claim 8, wherein said foil (72) is shaped so as to deform the connection element (36) from the non-deformed configuration to the deformed configuration.
A parquet assembly and disassembly kit according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the foil (72) is shaped so as to flatten and keep flat the connection element (36) inside one of said seats (28), sliding in the joint (32), parallel to said prevailing longitudinal direction (L-L).
A parquet assembly and disassembly kit according to claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein the foil (72) is shaped so as to penetrate the joint (32) and break the connection element (36) at at least one notch (60) made at said joint (32).
A parquet assembly and disassembly method comprising the steps of:
- providing a parquet (4) according to any one of the preceding claims,

- providing a disassembly tool (64) comprising a gripping portion (68) and a foil (72) configured to pass through and slide vertically and longitudinally along said joint (32),

- inserting the foil (72) in said joint (32) so as to deform the connection element (36) making it fit inside the seat (28) of a single strip or shearing it at said joint (32).